A/N: I'm gonna be honest with all of you. Like I said in the first chapter, trying to keep this annual story new and interesting is a challenge. This is year seven. Yeah, that blew me away too.

Confession time. Writing the first three chapters was a bit of a struggle. Throw in some personal things as well that put writing at the bottom of the priority list.

That said this starts the new part. And I had a lot of fun writing this for you.

I will explain the individual sleds at the end.

For all of you non-snow people think sculpted ice run like the Winter Olympics. Around the run, the snow is untouched. But partially used up to make the run. The dogs can run in that.

Chapter 4

Jake walked into the garage to three boys doing rock, paper and scissors over who would get Jack's plastic individual sled to try out the run first. Cait had their cheeks and chins covered in Vaseline to protect them from windburn and frostbite. He smiled. "Hang on guys," he said, opening the back of Aaron's SUV. The boys followed him. Jake pulled out two more red plastic individual sleds for the boys.

"Thank you Uncle Jake," Jack smiled, hugging him. Wyatt said and did the same.

Tate looked at Jake. "Thanks Uncle Jake," he smiled.

"You three are trying it out," he smiled. "I'm your launcher." Jake and the boys headed up the hill on the left side. They got to the top. "Tate, you're first," Jake said as they walked to the start point. "You get to try out your design." Tate smiled.

"You're good Uncle Jake," Jack smiled.

Dave walked in the door, pulling his jacket off. "Am I in time?"

"Hurry Dave," Aaron said.

Jake got Tate sitting down in the sled, pulled his stocking cap down over his ears more and smiled. "You ready TaterTot?" Tate gave him a thumbs up with a laugh. Jake gave him a push, sending him on his way.

Tate had designed a marvelous run. It started at the right side of the top of the hill taking advantage of the steep slope at the top. The run used that slope while going towards the other side of the hill. A one eighty curve sent the sled into the middle of the hill gathering more speed to go through an inverted "S" curve. The downhill bottom of the sled path careened back over with a wide curve to the right side of the hill towards Jamaal and Lisa's house to avoid the pool area and give the sliders plenty of room to stop between the two houses.

Wyatt and Jack jumped up and down on the top of hill high-fiving each other as Tate finished his run. The group inside all smiled and then lost sight of Tate. Jake gave them a thumbs up that Tate was OK. Mike looked at Matt. "We need to get some wax on the toboggan."

"Ya think?" Matt smiled. The boys left the living room heading towards the garage as the rest watched Jake get Wyatt going. When Wyatt got to the S curve, Jake sent Jack on his way.

"Cowabunga!" Jack shouted shooting down the course.

Jake shouted at Tate. "Stay there to cover Wyatt." Tate waved at him as Wyatt came flying into the landing zone and got the sled stopped. Wyatt scampered off and shared a high five with Tate. Jack blew in seconds later.

"That was amazing guys!" Jack smiled.

"Let's go again," Wyatt smiled. The three boys started to run by the French doors and then stopped. Jack and Wyatt placed their hands on Beans and Mudgie's resting place. Tate watched respectfully. The boys with their sleds in their hands ran towards the path to get to the top of the hill.

Cait looked at Aaron and smiled. He opened one of the French doors and let Bella and Max out. The dogs bounded out to chase after the boys.

Sean looked at him brother. "What waist size are your jeans?"

"Sean?" Aaron asked back.

"Brother," Sean smiled, "I need to get out there and enjoy some of the action. But I only brought one pair of jeans."

Cait smiled. "Sean, you know the dress code around here. You've got a pair of cotton lounge pants and the dryer works." He looked at her. "I've already figured out the dryer is going to get a workout today."

"Knew that waking up this morning," Maggie smiled.

Sean looked at Aaron. "It's my wife and mother-in-law. You've known them for how many years now?" Aaron smiled.

Sean smiled. "The Barkley snark machine," he laughed. Aaron pointed at him.

"I would have just kicked your ass kid," Dave said, walking to the entryway to put on his snow clothes.

Cait smiled at Sean. "The true snark master."

Dave shook his head, looking at Maggie and Cait. "Sorry luvs; that mother of yours can out snark my ass." The group all laughed.

Jarrod looked at Sean. "Just walk away," he smiled. He looked out at the hill. "Hey you all! Come back and see this!"

They all came back into the Great Room to see the boys getting Jake on one of the sleds. Jake's torso barely fit. But the three boys got him careening down the path with Jake's legs bent up at a ninety-degree angle. The boys all cheered at the top as Jake finished the course with Bella and Max barking their approval. Max and Bella ran around the areas of snow that wasn't part of the sledding course.

Tate got Wyatt going again. Jack gave Tate a push to follow Wyatt, pulling his stocking cap down around Tate's ears before he pushed him off.

Jarrod shook his head looking at Aaron. "You do know what those three Stooges will do next?"

"Of course," Aaron smiled. "They'll do it Kamikaze style one after the other. Why do you think Jack watches NASCAR?"

"For the crashes," Jarrod smiled as the family headed off to get into their snow gear.

Maggie looked at Leslie. "Not your thing?"

"Maggie," Leslie smiled. "I grew up in New York City. Snow was never a good thing there with the people and the traffic." She followed Sean to get Ethan dressed for the snow.

Dave was pulling on his snow bibs as the Brooks family came in the door. "John, help Jarrod set up some chairs by the French doors," he smiled.

"It's that good?" Hannah asked.

Dave kissed her cheek. "Why do you think I'm dressing like this?" he smiled.

Jessica smiled at him with her large pan of deviled eggs. "I brought my snow gear along. I'm not missing my chance. I follow Matt, actually both the boys and their ladies on Instagram. He posted a series of pictures of building the run yesterday afternoon."

Jake was sending Tate down the run after Wyatt sailed through the S curve as Aaron, Cait, Matt, Mike and Dave got to the top of the hill with Matt pulling the toboggan. Jack raced up behind them with his sled.

"Jake," Dave said, "I think it's time for a little family nostalgia," he smiled.

Jake smiled. "You're good Dave."

John and Jarrod got the fireplace in the Great Room roaring again. "Hurry you two," Hannah said. Aaron knelt at the front of the toboggan. Jack settled in around his legs. Cait put her long legs around Jack and settled them on Aaron's thighs. Jack turned and looked at her. "Really mom?"

Cait pulled his stocking cap down over his face. "Humor me." Mike and Matt laughed, climbing on as Jack pushed his cap back up. The group in the living room laughed as well.

"Co-pilot to pilot," Jake said. "You ready?"

"Rotate," Aaron smiled. Jake gave Matt's back a mighty shove and sent the Hotchner family on their way. Due to the heavy, wet snow that had frozen overnight, Aaron barely had to steer the toboggan. He just had to keep it in the middle of the course.

"This is crazy good," Matt shouted bouncing around on the back of the toboggan.

Dave smiled at Jake as the Hotchner family came into the landing zone. Jake got Tate and Wyatt going again. Bella and Max barked at the boys as they sped by chasing after them on the side of the course.

Cait looked at Jack, Tate and Wyatt as Mike started pulling the toboggan up the hill. "After Sean's run with his boys and Dave, and a couple more, the boys need to get inside for a bit," she said to Aaron.

"Doc?" Aaron said.

"That wind is still cold Aaron. And the Vaseline is wearing off. I don't want them to get wind-burnt. And I'm sure they're getting hungry."

They all got to the top of the hill. Aaron looked at Sean. "You just need to pull the curved part in the front to get it to stay in the sledding course," he nodded at toboggan. "It's just like driving a car."

"Got it," Sean smiled, kneeling down in the front. Cait got Ethan tucked around his bent legs. She looked at Dave.

"This is where you step up," she smiled. Dave sat down on the toboggan and put his legs around Ethan.

"You're good Uncle Dave," Jack smiled. Aaron got Wyatt on with Jake putting his long legs around him.

"Take-off," Matt and Mike shouted, giving the toboggan a big push.

Aaron got Tate into his sled. "Two more runs buddy. After that, you need to get inside and get warmed up." Cait pulled his stocking cap down around his ears.

Tate smiled at him. "I'm in. And getting hungry."

Aaron looked at Cait with a smile sending Tate down the slide.

Jack looked at Cait. "I'm in too," he smiled. Cait gave him a shove on his sled.

Penelope and Kevin came in the front door. She had a huge meat and cheese tray while Kevin had a bag of assorted crackers. "Just in time," Maggie smiled, taking the tray from Penelope as Jarrod took their coats. "Round one of sliding is just about done."

Penelope and Kevin looked out the doors. Sean chased the boys inside as Dave brought the toboggan to the top of hill.

Aaron, Cait, Jack, Matt, Mike and Dave squeezed onto the toboggan for the last ride of the early afternoon session. Lauren videoed taped it with a smile. Andi looked at her as they sped down the slide. "That's the real family," Lauren smiled.

"Yup," Andi smiled.

Maggie, with Sean's restaurant chef chopping abilities that made short work of the onions had Cait's chili recipe slowly cooking on the stove.

Aaron and Cait helped Jack and Tate get out of their wet snow clothes in the garage with the garage heater turned up to 70 degrees. Jake and Dave shed their snow gear, spreading them out on the vehicles in the garage. The rest did the same. The garage heater would dry them out. Aaron looked at Sean, helping his sons. "I'm good Aaron. I'm just glad Cait saved a pair of your old boots." Aaron just shook his head with a smile. "I know Aaron," he smiled. "She's Cait."

"Why I married her," Aaron smiled. Sean smiled back at him, getting his sons into the house.

Matt, Mike and Jake chased Jack and Tate into the house to get warmed up. Aaron pulled Cait to him. "You didn't have to do this again for my team."

"I'm part of that team Aaron," Cait said. "And I love them as much as you. I just show it a little more than you. And I get it. You're the boss. Aaron," Cait said, rubbing his chest. "Enjoy this. It's a bonus. For them; and you."

Aaron kissed her. "Thank you."

Cait seductively looked at him. "Going for two nights in a row stud?"

Aaron gave her the laugh that she fell in love with. "The thought might have crossed my mind."

"That's not the only thing that got a heads up," Cait snarked back.

Aaron laughed more. "That too."

They walked into their home to all the boys diving into the meat and cheese tray. Jack with a plate full of crackers, meat and cheese, heading for the fireplace, made a detour. "Thanks Pen," he smiled. "This is the bomb. I love you," he said, hugging her.

Penelope deeply hugged him. "Why I do it kiddo." Cait and Aaron smiled at each other.

John looked at Tate. "I'm hearing a rumor that run was your design?" Tate just shrugged with a smile. "Great job kid," John smiled, sharing a high five him. Tate suddenly shook his head in pain. "Cait!" John said.

Mike got there first and looked at Tate. "Which ear?" Tate pointed to his right ear as John took his plate. "Let me help buddy," Mike smiled. "Been there," he said, gently taking Tate's hearing aid supplement of his implant out of his ear. Mike looked at it and wiped a bit of condensation off it. Tate, can you still hear me out of your other ear? Mike signed. Tate nodded. "Tate, it's basically made of plastic. When plastic gets cold and then gets into warmth, it causes condensation. And that can be like swimmer's ear. Water in your ear. Why do you think we all kept pulling down your stocking cap?"

Mike got the first one back in and helped Tate with his left ear one. Using his shirt again.

Cait shook her head at Aaron. "He's a male mom. Take a pill," Aaron smiled.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't drill my fist into your shoulder right now," Cait growled.

"You love me?" Aaron answered with a smile. Cait shook her head, eating a cracker with meat and cheese.

Tate smiled at Mike. "Thank you."

"We row the same boat bud," Mike smiled at him, winking at John. Tate took his plate from John with a smile. Cait and Aaron smiled at each other enjoying more of the meat and cheese tray.

"Thanks grandpa," Tate smiled at John.

"Any time kiddo," John smiled, rubbing the top of his head.

Cait smiled at Garcia. "Penelope this is awesome. And just what we needed. Thank you."

"Back at ya," Garcia smiled. "Thanksgiving is always wonderful here. This day is going to be more special."

Emily and Declan came in through the garage. "It's a time out?" Emily snarked.

"Em, all you and Declan have to do is get your snow gear on, grab a sled in the garage and have at it," Aaron pointed.

"I'm in," Declan said, heading back to the garage.

Ten minutes later, the crew in the house laughed at Emily laughing as she hurtled down the run. "Holy shit!" she said, careening through the S curve.

"It's the bomb mom!" Declan shouted making the one eighty curve behind her.

Bella and Max, after their work out and sleeping by the fireplace out-dueled each other snoring.

"I'll match that tonight," Dave woefully said. He looked at Jack, Tate and Wyatt. "And wonderfully accept it," he smiled.

"You are a warrior Uncle Dave," Jarrod smiled.

Dave shook his head. "Jarrod, it's called taking one for the team."

"And you're such a team player," Aaron snarked.

"Hey Aaron, I know I wasn't at first. But I am now."

Aaron smiled. "I know Dave. I just couldn't resist."

"We love warrior Uncle Dave," Jack smiled.

"He's the bomb," Wyatt added.

"Time out guys," Matt said. "Don't inflate his ego anymore." Dave glared at Matt.

Jack laughed looking at his co-conspirators and then Matt. "We'll take care of that." Wyatt and Tate snickered, eating more. He pointed at the sliding hill to Dave. Rossi just shook his head. The rest all laughed.

Kevin nudged Jack's shoulder. Jack looked at Kevin and smiled. "Six words Kevin. Get Uncle Dave on a sled."

"Ooo no you don't," Rossi growled.

Aaron looked at Jake. "Make it so Number One."

Jake smiled. "Aye, aye sir."

Jarrod laughed. "Busted Uncle Dave."

Wyatt pointed out the French doors. "Emily is doing it again Uncle Dave."

"You're piling on," Dave growled at Wyatt.

Matt and Mike shared a high five. "I love it when a plan comes together," Matt smiled.

Cait and Aaron shared a laugh.

###

A/N: I think I've explained before what a TaterTot is. For those of you that don't remember, it's a cube shaped piece of breaded potato. In this case, Jake and the older boys are playing on Tate's name. And I've explained males that play sports. Nicknames are part of the game.

For those of you in a no snow world, a plastic sled is (US lengths) four feet long by 20 inches wide. The sides are about two inches high with a bowed front much like a boat but covers the whole front. It's a perfect size for how old the boys (Jack, Tate and Wyatt) in this story are. But it can hold two people. I'll expound on that in the next chapter. :D

Rotate is my recently developed affliction of watching take off and landing vids on YouTube of heavy passenger jets. When I'm not writing and bored, I'm easily amused. But my real passion is Hope for Paws rescue vids. Please check them out. And then have a heart and hit the donate button.

Once again, I remind you all that degrees in my world are in the Fahrenheit scale.